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the impulsive lady, who would not let him say good-bye and
go away.
‘And be sure, be sure,’ she prattled on, ‘to come back and
tell me what you see there, and what you find out... what
comes to light... how they’ll try him... and what he’s con-
demned to.... Tell me, we have no capital punishment, have
we? But be sure to come, even if it’s at three o’clock at night,
at four, at half-past four.... Tell them to wake me, to wake
me, to shake me, if I don’t get up.... But, good heavens, I
shan’t sleep! But wait, hadn’t I better come with you?’
‘N-no. But if you would write three lines with your own
hand, stating that you did not give Dmitri Fyodorovitch
money, it might, perhaps, be of use... in case it’s needed..’
‘To be sure!’ Madame Hohlakov skipped, delighted, to
her bureau. ‘And you know I’m simply struck, amazed at
your resourcefulness, your good sense in such affairs. Are
you in the service here? I’m delighted to think that you’re in
the service here!’
And still speaking, she scribbled on half a sheet of note-
paper the following lines:
I’ve never in my life lent to that unhappy man, Dmitri
Fyodorovitch Karamazov (for, in spite of all, he is unhappy),
three thousand roubles to-day. I’ve never given him money,
never: That I swear by all thats holy!
K. Hohlakov
‘Here’s the note!’ she turned quickly to Pyotr Ilyitch. ‘Go,
save him. It’s a noble deed on your part!’
And she made the sign of the cross three times over him.
She ran out to accompany him to the passage.